It Is Well with My Soul #490
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INTRODUCTION:
INTRODUCTION:
1. Today, we are going to look at the life of Horatio G. Spafford.
1. Today, we are going to look at the life of Horatio G. Spafford.
A. Spafford’s life can teach us a lot today.
A. Spafford’s life can teach us a lot today.
B. He is the author of “It is Well with My Soul.”
B. He is the author of “It is Well with My Soul.”
BODY:
BODY:
1. SPAFFORD’S LIFE TRAGEDY.
1. SPAFFORD’S LIFE TRAGEDY.
A. Prior to 1871:
A. Prior to 1871:
1. Spafford was a successful lawyer in Chicago.
1. Spafford was a successful lawyer in Chicago.
2. He was also invested heavily in real estate.
2. He was also invested heavily in real estate.
A. Life was good for Spafford and his family.
A. Life was good for Spafford and his family.
1. He had a wife, son, four daughters, and a successful career and business.
1. He had a wife, son, four daughters, and a successful career and business.
B. His family was taken care of for many years to come, or so he thought.
B. His family was taken care of for many years to come, or so he thought.
1. Have we ever been in this situation?
1. Have we ever been in this situation?
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;
14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
2. Our lives are going well; we have it all planned out and have everything that we need, or so we think.
2. Our lives are going well; we have it all planned out and have everything that we need, or so we think.
15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’
18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
3. You might think you have everything--a promising career, great car, the perfect house, a wife, children, and grandchildren to share all of earth’s treasures with.
3. You might think you have everything--a promising career, great car, the perfect house, a wife, children, and grandchildren to share all of earth’s treasures with.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
B. After 1871 In the Life of Spafford:
B. After 1871 In the Life of Spafford:
1. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 Happened:
1. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 Happened:
A. It took the life of Spafford’s firstborn son.
A. It took the life of Spafford’s firstborn son.
B. It destroyed his real estate investments.
B. It destroyed his real estate investments.
C. It caused an economic downturn and, as a result, destroyed his law practice.
C. It caused an economic downturn and, as a result, destroyed his law practice.
1. Everything that he had worked so hard for was gone.
1. Everything that he had worked so hard for was gone.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
A. Insurance might be able to help with the law practice and real estate investments, but his son was gone.
A. Insurance might be able to help with the law practice and real estate investments, but his son was gone.
B. Spafford and family began to rebuild and get back on track.
B. Spafford and family began to rebuild and get back on track.
2. In 1873, Spafford and his wife decided to go to Europe on vacation.
2. In 1873, Spafford and his wife decided to go to Europe on vacation.
A. In a late turn of events, Spafford had to stay behind for business concerning the rebuilding of his real estate company.
A. In a late turn of events, Spafford had to stay behind for business concerning the rebuilding of his real estate company.
1. He sent his wife, Anna, and four daughters ahead on the ocean liner SS Ville du Havre, thinking he would join them later.
1. He sent his wife, Anna, and four daughters ahead on the ocean liner SS Ville du Havre, thinking he would join them later.
2. The SS Ville du Havre collided with the British vessel Loch Earn and sank.
2. The SS Ville du Havre collided with the British vessel Loch Earn and sank.
3. Two hundred and twenty-six people died, including all four of Spafford’s daughters.
3. Two hundred and twenty-six people died, including all four of Spafford’s daughters.
4. His wife, Anna, unconscious, was saved by the crew of the Loch Earn and then transferred to the Trimountain, a cargo sailing vessel, along with the other 60 passengers and 26 crew members who survived.
4. His wife, Anna, unconscious, was saved by the crew of the Loch Earn and then transferred to the Trimountain, a cargo sailing vessel, along with the other 60 passengers and 26 crew members who survived.
B. As soon as Anna landed in Cardiff, Wales, she was able to send the message “Saved alone” to Spafford.
B. As soon as Anna landed in Cardiff, Wales, she was able to send the message “Saved alone” to Spafford.
1. If we recieved this message today, after already having lost a son, a career, a side business and now four daughters, what would be our response?
1. If we recieved this message today, after already having lost a son, a career, a side business and now four daughters, what would be our response?
27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
3. The suffering did not stop there.
3. The suffering did not stop there.
A. Spafford and his wife would return to Chicago and have three more children.
A. Spafford and his wife would return to Chicago and have three more children.
1. First, a son named Horatio II, who lived four years and died of starlet fever.
1. First, a son named Horatio II, who lived four years and died of starlet fever.
2. Then, two daughters who would survive to adulthood.
2. Then, two daughters who would survive to adulthood.
3. Out of eight children, six died—two sons and four daughters—and only two daughters lived.
3. Out of eight children, six died—two sons and four daughters—and only two daughters lived.
C. If Spafford was going to make it through this life, he must realize one thing.
C. If Spafford was going to make it through this life, he must realize one thing.
1. This life is ultimately not about family, a career, a business, or money,because all of these things can be lost, and then where would you be?
1. This life is ultimately not about family, a career, a business, or money,because all of these things can be lost, and then where would you be?
A. It is about God and being content with what God gives.
A. It is about God and being content with what God gives.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
B. Godliness with contentment is great gain.
B. Godliness with contentment is great gain.
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
D. When tragedy strikes, there are only two ways to respond.
D. When tragedy strikes, there are only two ways to respond.
1. Allow your faith in God to be strengthened by the experience.
1. Allow your faith in God to be strengthened by the experience.
21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
2. Or Allow your faith in God to be weakened by the experience.
2. Or Allow your faith in God to be weakened by the experience.
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
2. HORATIO’S G. SPAFFORD’S LIFE WAS FULL OF TRAGEDY.
2. HORATIO’S G. SPAFFORD’S LIFE WAS FULL OF TRAGEDY.
A. Out of this tragedy, he wrote a very beautiful and encouraging song.
A. Out of this tragedy, he wrote a very beautiful and encouraging song.
1. Next week, we will consider the lyrics of this song and how Spafford handled the tragedy of his life.
1. Next week, we will consider the lyrics of this song and how Spafford handled the tragedy of his life.
CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION:
1. If the life you had yesterday was gone with no hope of ever getting it back, what would you be left with today?
1. If the life you had yesterday was gone with no hope of ever getting it back, what would you be left with today?
2. Shortly after the birth of their last daughter, Spafford and his family moved to Jerusalem. Spafford said, “Jerusalem is where my Lord lived, suffered, and conquered, and I wish to learn how to live, suffer, and especially to conquer.”
2. Shortly after the birth of their last daughter, Spafford and his family moved to Jerusalem. Spafford said, “Jerusalem is where my Lord lived, suffered, and conquered, and I wish to learn how to live, suffer, and especially to conquer.”
3. It is Well With My Soul.
3. It is Well With My Soul.